San Jose Beerwalk Returns to Japantown

The annual San Jose Beerwalk brings visitors to J Town merchants to sample local beers.

Instead ofventuring into the fog for SF Beer Week, craft brew aficionados can stay local and sample some of a dozen-plus beers in (relatively) warm, windless San Jose.

The third annual San Jose Beerwalk takes place from 2 to 5pm Saturday in Japantown. The event will feature a host of local beer-smiths, including nearby Gordon Biersch, a longstanding fixture in the neighborhood, which will offer two bottling plant tours to the first 60 people to sign up (one at 12:30pm and another an hour later).

The itinerant tour organized by Jack’s Bar and web-powered dining tour company Dishcrawl is going on its third year in San Jose, establishing itself along with Sake San Jose fundraiser as an annual attraction in Japantown. Impresarios from Jack’s say they want the tour to provide a social outlet for the community and showcase the diverse array of independent businesses in the historic district.

“I like that, so far, it has hit that sweet spot of festive yet not too crowded,” says April Gee, proprietor of Japantown’s hole-in-the-wall art boutique Petit Galleria, which will share a pouring station with Headliners, a hat shop next-door. “It’s more about having fun and supporting the unique local businesses here while dabbling in beer connoisseurship.”

For a $30 ticket, attendees can wander in and out of 23 neighborhood shops and eateries doubling as pouring stations for the occasion, doling out two to a few ounces per tasting. Designated drivers, thankfully, get in free, so they could pull double duty as chaperones for tipsy friends.

Roy’s Station, a corner gas station-turned-gourmet coffee shop, will offer free drip coffee throughout the event, giving designated drivers something to sip on and drinkers something to jolt them awake after an afternoon of imbibing. H&R Block, reminding the world that it’s tax season, will temper the buzzkill with complimentary snacks.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Japantown Business Association and the Bay Area Brewers Build.

San Jose Beerwalk $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Registration at noon. Event runs from 2-6pm Saturday in Japantown. For more info, call Jack’s Bar & Lounge or go to www.thebeerwalk.com.